Trailer attachment por motor vehicles



July 7, 1925.

C. DE MATTIA RAILER' ATTACHMENT FOE ama VEHICLES Original Filed Feb. 4, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1' N V15 1V J 0/1 A TTORA L Y B Qwsfm/ 0e Mil/0.

C. DE MATTIA TRAILER ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Drizinal Filed Feb. .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reiaued July 7, 1925.

Y Re. lama UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I CONSTANT DE MATTIA, OI DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSTGNOB, BY HESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T WOLV'EBINE PATENTS HOLDING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COR- POBATION OF MICHIGAN.

TRAILER ATTACHMENT IQR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Original Io. 1,368,705,

To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that I, CONSTANT MAT- TIA, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, have invented certain new. and useful mprovements in .Trafier Attachments for Motor Vehicles, of-which the following is a specification. a I q My invention relates. to a trailerattachment for vehicles, and particularly to means for automatically coupling a "trailer toa tractor-pr other motor vehicle. g

.Qne'object of the invention is .to embody in'. connection with a fifth wheel mounted on theffr'ame of the tractor,-means adapted to guide a co-ope'rating coupling element carried by thetrailer into interlocking re- 1acion with the means carried bythe fiftll wheel.

,-- Another object of the invention is to provi'de' means wherebya tiltable platform and guiding element carried by the fifth wheel is adapted to flex sufficiently that it may -readi-ly adjust itself to receive the co-oper- "ating coupling element carried-by the trailer,

. ,hecohstruction being such that when the partsare in pro er interlocking relation to ,each other the tiltable platform'carried by Ethe fifth wheel will automatically return to tsnormal horizontal position.

AZnother-feature of the invention consists ,m'eans for securing the parts when inter- :locked, inorder that the trailer may not becouiefi accidentally detached from the trac "Another. feature of the invention consists providing a flexible coupling means whereby in the event the tractor being backed toward the trailer at any angle, the coupling elements will still be enabled to intrlock-z-the tiltable table carried by the fifth 'wheel being adapted to turn or tilt to any L i'equired degree necessary to couple the tractor and trailer together.

Another feature of the ,invention is the spring, which is adapted to act upon the tiltable-platforhl to restore hit to its normal hOIlZODtEI POSltlOII when the trailer and tractor are; coupled together,- the spring also serves ti). take up. or neutralize much of the stress and straw of starting the vehidest-snd tilt able platform being Heretofore if the rear wheels of the,

trailer were lower than the rear wheels of the tractor it served to prevent the tractor from obtaining proper traction and as no provision was made for side play between the tractor and trailer, they were found lacking in flexibility.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invent on resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may bemade in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the same.

. In the draw ngsaccompanying this speciview showing the coupling element carried by the trailer as it is about to enter the dated February 15, 1921, Serial No. 356,322, filed February 4, 1920. Application for reissue filed February 23, 192a. Serial in. 020,154.

co-operating element carried by the tractor, I

and in. dotted lines the tractor and trailer coupled together. I 1 7;

Figure 4 is a vertical, cross sectional view through the fifth .wheel, on line 44 of Fig. 2, showing the coupling 11001; engaged with the transverse bar of the trailer.

Figure 5 is'a similar View showing the transverse bar of the trailer in dotted lines bearing against the coupling hook to cause the latter to lift that it may engage the transverse bar, as shown in Fig. 4.

' Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional View on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Referring now to the letters of shown on the drawings t v i -A'denotes a trailer, B, B its side sills extending beyond the forward end of the reference 'body of the trailer (1 indicates a transverse bar, supportdbythe side sills,-having a downwardly extendin g lug C. D

denotes an annular, girnor-fifth wheel, secured to the reafie d f he t a t r f e,

E indicates a tiltable platform provided,

with a supporting standard having a relatively large flat base adapted when in its nor-. mally upright position to rest upon and con-' form to the flat bottom wall of the socket or-hub D of the fifth wheel. Projecting downwardly from.the tiltable platform-1s a pair of inclined spreading tines 6,6 to receive and guide the lug C of the transverse bar C when brought into coupling relation with the latter. I indicates a pin extending transversely across the supporting base E on which is loosely sleeved a fitting G. H indicates a bolt having a yo? shaped end pivoted to the fitting G.

I denotes a cup-shaped fitting sleeved upon the bolt H, and J is an annular ballrace supported b the bolt between the fitting I and-a-nut 1 en aging the bolt.

K indicates a spring aving one end. bearing against the huh I) of the fifth wheel and the other end against a projecting flange on the fitting I.

L denotes a hook-shaped latch pivoted on a transverse pin L between a pair of upstanding lugs E", E formed integral with the platform E. The end of the latch L is' tapered slightly as'indicated at L in order that when the tractor is backed toward the trailer for coupling therewith, the transverse bar C of the trailer may lift the latch that the latter mayengage said bar as shown in ig. 5a v E, E are arc-shaped lugs spaced apart and integral with the platform E, against which the transverse bar G bears when engaged by the latch L. M is a removable lockpin supported by lugs E,-E* projecting from the platform E, adapted to straddle and thereby lock the latch L when engaged with the transverse bar C.

inclined tines c,

substantially horiz'ontal position due to thecombined action oftheasprmg' K and the weight of the load upon the platform.

'It will now be apparent that .while the platform E is adapted to tilt so asto accom modate itself'to the positionof the transverse bar O of the trailer in- 0rd rthat it may couplejiylth the latter, thetilt ng action is limited by contact with the fifth wheel and as soon as the parts are in their proper interlocking relation or relative position to each other, the platform E will return to its normal horizontal position.

Having thus described my inventlon, what I claim is:

11'. In a-device of the character described, the combination with a tractor and a trailer, of a transverse coupling bar carried by the trailer, a fifth whee-l member carried by the tractor, a tiltable platform mounted on the fifth wheel member, and a coupling hook pivoted on said platformto. automatically engage and lock said transverse bar to the platform.

2. In a deviceof the character described, the combination with a tractor and a trailer, of a transverse coupling bar carried by the trailer, 0. fifth wheel member carried by thetractor, a tiltable platformnwunted on the fifth wheel member, said bar having a pro-- jection and the platform having a guide-' way adapted to extend beneath the bar to direct the latter onto the platform, the plat, form being tiltable so as to receive the said bar and adapted to maintain a normal horizontal position when the transverse bar "is seated upon the platform, and means for lockingthe bar on the platform.

In a. device of the character described, the combination of a tractor and a trailer,

of a coupling bar carried by the trailer a fifth wheel member carried by the tractor a tiltable platform mounted on the fif wheel member, and. means on said platfo i said 'bar to the platform.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a tractor and a trailer; of a transverse coupling bar carried by the trailer; :1 fifth wheel member carried by the tractor, a tilt-able platform having an inclined guideway adapted to extend beneath 'the transverse bar of the trailer to direct to engage and automatically detachably 1mg;

the latter onto the tiltable platform, said platform having a substantially. flat supporting base loosely mounted in the frame of the fifth wheel, said platform being adapted to tilt upon said fifth wheel to receive the transverse coupling bar and to return to its normal horizontal position when the transverse coupling'bar is seated upon the platform, and a coupling hook pivoted to said platform, adapted to automatically engage said transverse bar, whereby thetractor and trailer may be couple'dtogether.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination Witha tractor and a trailer, the trailer having forwardly projecting side. $1118, of a transverse coupling bar carried by said-"side sills and having a projection intermediate its endga fifthtwheel member 1 carfiedfi'hy the tractor;-'aplatfor nca 'rielil with an inclined forked guideway adapted to pass beneath said bar to receive the pro in the latter to 6. fi e-device of the character described, a

the combination witha tractor and a trailer, of -a'trans verse coupling bar carried by the trailer, afifth wheel member carried by the tractor and havin a socket, a platform having a; substantia ly flat base loosely suported in the socket in the fifth wheel whereya substantially universal joint is provided between" the platform and the fifth wheel .meniber, said platform .having an inclined gin ewe to direct the transverse coupling bar of t e trailer onto the platform, means carriedjib saidplatformto receive and sesurej sax transverse coupling bar when thereon, and resilient means adapt--v ed toialssist in maintaining said platform in "a normally horizontal position.

7.;,In a device of the character described, ztlxjeombination with a tractor and a trailer, of a1 fifth wheel member secured to the frame of a tractor, a tiltable platform mounted upon the fifth wheel member and having-a forked portion, a transverse coupling ele- Vment carried by the frame of the trailer, the

transverse cou ling element having a projecting lug adapted to enter between the forked portions of the tiltable platform, resilient means for maintaining the tiltable platform in a substantially horizontal position, and means for engaging said transverse coupling element, whereby the trailer may be coupled with the tractor.

8. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a tractorand a trailer, of a fifth wheel member secured to the-trad tor frame, having a central socket, a platform supported by a pedestal having a substantially flat base, adapted to rock in the (iii socket of the fifth wheel member, said latform rovided-with a downwardly inc ined forke -way, a transverse bar secured tothe frame of the trailer having a tongue, adapted to be guided by the inclined forked-Way of the platform, means carried by the platform to automatically engage said transverse bar, and means adapted to yieldingly maintain said platform in a substantially horizontal position.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a tractor and a trailer, of a fifth. wheel member secured to the tractor frame, provided with a central socket or hub having an opening for the passage of a bolt; a tiltable platform having a pedestal lodged in said socket of the fifth wheel member and an inclined forked portion extending downwardly from the platform proper to receive and-guide a transverse member I carried by the trailer, a fitting pivoted to said pedestal, abolt pivoted to the fitting, an annular member carried-by said bolt adapted to receive the thrust of a spring, a

spring ho'used between the annular member and the socket wall of the fifth wheel memher, a transverse member carried by the trailer, provided with a projecting lug adapted to enter the forked portion of the tiltable platform, avlatch carried by the platform adapted to engage the transverse member,

and means forlocking said latch against accidental disengagement. I

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a tractor and a trailer, of a fifth wheel member secured to the tractorv frame; a tiltable platform supported upon said fifth wheel member, its tilting raction limited by the latter, having an inclined way leading to the platform, a latch bar pivoted to the platform, lugs integral with the platform and substantially in alinement with the engaging end of said latch; a cooperative coupling element secured to the I trailercomprising a transverse bar adapted to be guided by the inclined way of the tiltable platform into abutting contact with said ,lugs and into couplingengagement by said latch, a d means for yieldably maintaming said p atform in a substantially horizontal position. f

11. In a, device of the character described, the combination of a tractor and a trailer, a fifth wheel member secured to the tractor and a platform having a tiltable connection with the fifth wheel member and provided with a V-shaped slot forming a guideway, means carried by the trailer including a device extending into said guideway "and guided by said slot to position the trailer with respect to coupling relation of the trailcr to the tractor, and'a device to lock the I tractor and trailer in coupling relation",

12. Ina device of the character described, the combination of a tractor and a trailer, a fifth wheel member secured to-the'tractor, a platform having a tiltable connection with the fifth wheel member and provided with downwardly extending diverging tines forming a substantially 'V-shaped guide 'way, means carried by the trailer including a projecting element which projects into said guideway and which is guided by the latter to position the trailer with res pct to the coupling relation with the tractor, and a deviceto lock the trailer and tractor in conpiing relation.

iii. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tractor and a tiailer, a

fifth wheel member secured to the tractor, a platform having a universal joint connection with the fifth wheel member and provided with a downwardly extending portion having a substantially V-shaped slot therein forming a guideway, means carried by the trailer including an element projecting into said guidcway and guided by the sides of the latter so as to position the trailer with respect to coupling relation to the tliltCtOl', and

a device to automatically lock tie tractor and trailer in coupling relation.

14. In a device of the character described,

the con'ibination of a tractor and a trailer,

13 a fifth wheel member securedto the tractor,

a platforn'i having a tiltable connection with the fifth wheel member and provided with downwardly divergingtines extending beyond the fifth wheel meml'icr'and forming a substantially V-shaped guide, means carried by the trailer including an element projecting therefrom and into,said guideway and guided by the sides of the latter so as to position the traileravitli respect tocoupling relation with the tractor, and

means to lock the tractor and trailer in coupling relation.

15. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a tractor and a trailer,

31] of a bar disposed in advanceof the body of the trailer and transversely thereof, a

fifth wheel member carried by the tractor,

a tiltable platform mounted on the fifth wvheel member, and a device on the platform 35 to enact with said bar to couple the tractor and trailer together, the bar acting a hinge pin to permit the trailer to flex ireely under the action of irregularities in the.

road surface. in

two vehicles, a longitudinally tiltahle platform having a longitudinal guldeway there- 16. In a vehicle coupling for connecting in, a coupling hook carried by the platform; and means tor securing the platform to a vehicle, in combination with a member having means for attachment to a second vo hide to be coupled to the first, the member means for securing .tne plat orm to a vehicle, in combination with a coin lementary member to be secured to a secon vehicle to be coupled to the first, the complementary member having a part movable in the guideway and engageahl with the'arms to direct the complementary member to move over '7 the upper face of the tilting platform to tilt the ends of the arms upwardly andto permit the complementary member to be engaged by the engaging means.

-l8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tractor and a trailer, of a transverse coupiing bar carried by the trailer, said bar having a projection, a tiltable platform on the tractor. having a guideway adapted to extendbeneath the bar to receive the pro'ection to direct the bar onto the platform, t e platform being ti-ltahlc so as to receive the bar and adapted to maintain a normal horizontal position when the transverse bar is seated upon the platform, and means for locking the bar on the platform.

In testimony whereof I affix my sigma-- -ture.

CONSTANT DE MATIIA. 

